Ore-concentrator.



A. H. STEBBINS.

v ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1901.

Patented Oct. 6,1908. e sums-sum: 1.

ORE OONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1907.

Patnted 0011.6,1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. H. STBBBINS. ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1907.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

GLWOWMJ A. H. STEBBINS.

ORE OONGEfITRATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1907.

. Patented Oct. 6, 1908 e sHEnTs-HBBT 6 VALBERT H. STEBBINS, or Los ANGELEscALIFoRNm.

1 onn-ooncnurnnron.

To all whiiinit may concern:

Be it known that I, -ALBERT H, STEBBINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles andState of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore- Ooncentrators, of which thefollowing'is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ore concentrators, an object of the invention being to provide an improved construc-.

tion of concentrator surface, over which air jets are directed away from the entrance end thereof and across the surface.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of upper-wall comprising a zig zag formation, providing a series ofbuifers against which the ore is directed bythe action of the machine. a

A further object is to provide improved constructions and arrangements of riffles on the concentrating surface.

A further object is to provide an improved dust chamber in which the dust is collected from the concentrator.

A further object is to provide an improved inclined and angularly-disposed shaking concentrator with improved mounting and operating mechanism, which will be extremely simple in construction, strong and durable in use and perfectly perform the functions of a machine of this character.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation illustrating my improvements. 7 longitudinal section of the supporting framework. Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the washer. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section of the same. Figs. (3, 7, 8, 8 and 8 are views of modified forms of riflle. Figs. 9 and 10 are views in plan and longitudinal section respectively, showing clearly the arrangement of riffles. Fig. 11 is a modified form of concentrator and Fig. 12 illustrates a modified form of e(- -ent1'ic for reciprocating the washer. V

1 represents a rectangular supporting framework, on which a reciprocating .car-

riage 2 is mounted. Thiscarriage 2 com prises a horizontal frame 3 and an inclined Specification 61 Letters Patent.

Application med August a, 1907. Serial no. 387,766;

Fig. 2 is 'a'view in Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

frame 4, the former supported on spiral springs 5 atthe corners of frame 1 and connected by cranks 6 at,its ends with the end portion of frame 1, to give to the reciprocating carriage the desired angle of movement when reciprocated. The inclined frame 4 has my lmproved concentrator secured thereon and disposes the latter at the proper angle and inclination, as will more fully hereinafter appear. v

7 represents a drive shaft supported in suitable bearings 8 on frame 1 and having an eccentric 9 fixed thereto. A pitman 10 pivotally connected to carriage 2 and slotted to receive shaft 7 carries a roller 11 in contact with eccentric 9, and a spring 12, connecting carriage and frame 1, serves to move the carriage in one direction, maintaining the roller 1] against eccentric 9 and permitting the-latter to reciprocate the carriage. A cylindrical blower or fan 13 is supported in frame 1 and driven by a pulley 14 on shaft 7 and an air tube 14 connects the blower with an air chamber 15 extending entirely below the concentrator surface plate 16, said air chamber being subdivided into a number of small chambers if desired- The concentrator surface is of general triangular form, having an entrance hopper 18 at its upper narrower end and gradually widening to its lower discharge end.- The plate 17 .is provided with a great number of perforations formed by bent-lips 19 from the plate, and said lips serve to direct the jets of air-issuing from the perforations away from the entrance end of the concentrator and across the surface thereof, and are a very important feature of my improvements.

The upper wall of the concentrator plate is of zigzag formation, consisting of a series of stepsproviding a great number of bufiing surfaces or walls 20, against which the ore is directed by the riffles 21, the latter being preferably spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the buffing surfaces and spaced from the latter to provide passageways for the concentrate to pass. The rifiles 21 connect with the lower wall 22 of the concentrator and are located preferably at a slight anglepto the line of reciprocation of the concentrator and may beimade and arranged in various ways, some of which will be hereinafter pointed out.

A dust-collecting hood or casing 23 incloses the upper portion ofthe concentrator proper and communicates with a dust-colwith this chamber 24 to draw the dust therein, and an exit 25 is provided in the chamber for the heavier particles therein.

In the preferred form of iny improvements, the rifiles extend from the lower wall 22 to near the buffing walls 20 and are located at an angle to the longitudinal movement of the concentrator which tends always to move the concentrate higher and higher and into buffing action against walls20.

In Fig. 6 a stepped form of riflies is illustrated, which 'will exert a bufling action to all material passing along their stepped face.

Fig. 7 illustrates rifiles having alternately arranged high and low parts. The riflies are so placed that the high parts of a riffle are opposed to the low parts of the riflie next above it. The movement of the -machine keeps the ore pulp spread out about evenly over the surface. A portion of the ore pulp Working over a'low place flows down against a high place in the riflle next below and must move on, be shaken up, and be subjected to another air effect before it gets to a low place in that riflie and so on from one rillle to another. These riflies, like most of the others, may be gradually reduced in height as they progress toward the discharge end.

Fig. 8 illustrates riffles beginning high at the back wall and tapering down as they extend in the direction of the discharge end of the machine.

Fig. 8 illustrates riffles beginning high at,

back wall and gradually-tapering down for a part of their length and thereafter progressing at a more or 'less uniform height.

In Figwll I have illustrated a modified form of riflles, in which the concentrators are shown arranged in a generally spiral ath.

p Fig. 12 illustrates a modified form of stepped eccentric for reciprocating the washer. In many and, perhaps, in the majority of cases, it is desirable to run over a table, material composed of a wide range of sizes. For instance, on a concentrator, material as coarse as an eighth of an inch and all finer down to dust. find on a dry washer, material as coarse as a half inch and all finer down to dust. If the rillles are placed more than a half inch apart, they are too wide apart to do good work. At the same time, if rifiles, five sixteenths ofan inch high, are placed only a half inch apart, the coarse material will get down between them and clog and pack. But by placing'high riflles an inch or more apart and having them interspersed with low rifiles, as shown in Fig. 9, the good of the high ritlle is retained without their clogging and at the same time the good results of having the rillles close ranged in successive series.

together is not lost. Therefore, high rillles interspersed with low riflies will always be the proper construction. In some constructions,.they will alternate while in others there will be two or three, possibly more, low riflies between two high ones.

Fig. 9 illustrates high and low rillles ar- Each series beginning with a low ritlie and each following rifile increasing in height until a high one is reached, then again beginning a lowest one and repeating.

Fig. 8 illustrates a rifiie which is in effect about the same as a tapering rifl'le, but when it comes to the mechanical construction of the machine, they have or have not certain advantages according to which way the machine is made.

Another desirable form is to provide low places in ritfles, as shown at 26, just under a point where a concentrate bumper in the upper wall discharges down on to it, and at other desirable places. This is a very desirable feature. Where these low places are provided at desirable points a higher rillle can be used at other oints and an advantage thereby obtained. lso in construction it is a convenient thing sometimes to reduce the height of a ritlle only at some particularly desired point. Where a ritlle parallels the top wall after passing a bumper, it is desirable to have it rise in height, as shown at 27. so that it will create an accumulation up against the next bumper. It is by means of having an accumulation rise up in height from the surface that the last residual of waste or lighter particles are raised high enough to get them well started in a {low down over the ritlles below. Also at the end of the machine, it is often desirable to create an accumulation by stopping the discharge of the concentrates except at intervals. This is particularly true of gold for the quantity of gold to be discharged is so small in proportion to the waste that it is necessary to cause it to accumulate and discharge only at inlcrvals if a close concentrate is desired. as is always the case where one is running for gold values only. Under each of these circumstances the riflies would be made to rise as they neared the end. In fact, they would be raised at any place where it was desired to create an accumulation, but probably the above two instances about cover the desired range. a

Some of the advantages of my improved structure are as follows: The air stratifies and imparts mobility to the ore pulp. The movement stratifies, increases general mobility and particularly moves the material along the rifiles. The slant induces the top material to move down the surface over top of ritlies. Riilles guide along themselves ma terial below their tops, allowing that. above their tops to flow over. Each successive riflilo The gradual an fie catches more or less of the material flowin over the one above and by reducing in helght as they proceed they gradually release more and more of the top material. The zigzag or top wall with offsets continually throws down part of the material brought u to it. The machine widening and the ri es lowering all'ows the'ore pulp to thin out and spread over-a wide surface.

progressive actions and eliminations of these conditions and forces working in conjunction causes the ore pulp to classify itself according to the various specific gravities of its component parts. The heaviest particles assume positions along the higher rlfiles and the various specific gravities grade themselves on down to the lightest at the bottom.

. .A great many slight changes might be.

made in the general form and. arrangement of the parts described without departing from my invention and hence I do not restrict myself to the precisede'tails t forth but consider myself at liberty to ma e such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the s irit and scope of my invention.

Having ully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ore concentrator, the combination with an inclined and diagonally disposed perforated plate, a stepped or zigzag wall at the upper side of said plate, and rifiies extending across said plate fromthe wall opposite said stepped or zigzag wall so arranged as to direct the zigzag wall. I i o 2. In an ore concentrator, the combination with an inclined and diagonally. disposed er- 40 forated plate, a steppe or zigzag wal at the upper side of said plate, and rifiles extending across said plate from the wall; opposite said stepped or zigzag wall, so arranged as to direct the material against said zigzag wall, whereby in effect said zi zag wall forms a bufiing surface, said rlflies width of said buffing surfaces. I

being spaced apart a distance equal to the v of'riffles thereon,

material against said on and disposed at an angle to the path of movement thereof, each succeeding riflie increasing in height and a plate or zigzag wall at the side of said screen adjacent the discharge ends of said riflies.

4:. In an ore concentrator, the combination with a'shaking screen, of a plurality of series of riflies thereon, each succeeding riflie of each series increasing in height and a plate or zigzag wall at the side. of said screen adjacent the discharge ends of said ritfies.

5. In an ore concentrator, the combination with a shaking screen, of a plurality of series the successive riflies of each series increasing in height and some of said riflies tapering in height and a stepped or zigza wall at one side of said screen.

6. In an ore concentrator, the combination with a shaking screen, of riflies thereon located at an angle to the path of movement thereof, and some of said rifileslhaving recesses in their upper edge and a stepped or zigzag wall at one side of said screen.

In an ore concentrator, the combination with a shaking plate, of a dust collecting hood above the plate, a dust receptacle or chamber receiving the dust from the hood, a suction pipe communicating with said chamber and an exit from said chamber for the larger and heavier'particles.

' 8. In an ore concentrator, the combination with a frame, a reciprocating carriage, spiral springs supporting said carriage on said frame,crank arms connecting said carriage and frame whereby the desired angle of movement is imparted to said carriage when reciprocated, means for reciprocating said carriage, an inclined frame and a perforated plate on' the carriage, and riflles on the plate,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT H. STEBBINS. Witnesses: EDWIN J [DE/LAND, J A. B. Dnssnny. 

